The capital is in the city of Canberra. Australian Capital Territory. Canberra: the heart of the Australian Federation

The name of the capital of Australia is translated from the language of the local Aborigines as " meeting place". The population of the city is just over 345 thousand people. Canberra is one of the largest cities in Australia and is located near the mountains of Brindabella at a distance of 150 km from east coast Australia.

The capital of Australia is located at an altitude of 550 to 700 m above sea level. The Molonglo River flows through Canberra, blocked in one of the places by a dam to maintain the water level in the artificial lake Burley Griffin, located in the city center.

Parliament of Canberra

The history of the formation of the capital of Australia

The search for a site for Australia's national capital began in the 19th century with debates within the Australian Federation. There was an assumption that the federal government would be located in Sydney, which remained until 1840 the administrative center of the colony. However, the gold rush that broke out in Victoria led to a change in this opinion, since by 1860 the population of Victoria outgrew that of Sydney.

Another city that claimed the title of the capital of Australia was Melbourne, whose financial base, also due to the discovery of gold deposits, at one time amounted to about 5% of the total income of the British Empire. As a result, the moment came when the dimensions and economic influence cities became comparable to those of Sydney, and Melbourne was given additional administrative powers.

For the first discussion in the Australian Federation, many proposals were made regarding the location of the future capital of Australia. So, John Dunmore Lang, a politician who had previously advocated the creation of an Australian federation, proposed Sydney; however, New South Wales Premier Henry Parkes proposed that the capital of Australia be located on "no man's land", namely, in the city of Albury, located on the Murray River, which flows along the border of Victoria and New South Wales.

In 1898, a popular referendum was held on this issue in four colonies - New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania. The last three colonies received the required number of votes, but New South Wales did not. For this reason, in the same year, an additional meeting of four premiers was held, during which George Reid proposed to the premier of New South Wales that a new capital of Australia be formed on the territory of his colony.

The proposal was supported by three other premiers, after which an amendment was made to the content of Section 125 of the Australian Constitution to create a national capital of Australia in the state of New South Wales. Moreover, a note to the amendment noted that the location of the future capital should be no closer than 100 miles (160.9 km) from Sydney. With the passage of the bill, Melbourne became a temporary "home" for the government until the location of a new capital could be found. In 1899, a revised bill ended in success, gaining a majority vote in a referendum.

However, the question of the exact location of the new capital remained open. Bombala, far south in New South Wales, was originally proposed. Later, at the suggestion of the Premier of New South Wales, the cities of Monaro, Orange and Yass were added to it. The first Prime Minister of the Federal Government, Edmund Barton, added the cities of Tamworth, Tumut, Albury and Armidale to the list.

In 1902, members of the government visited all the proposed cities for their suitability for the new capital of the country. This trip did not bring any results, and it was decided to refer the matter to the Royal Commission, which proposed the choice of Tumut or Albury.

In 1903, the Commission submitted a report to Parliament recommending, in order of priority, Albury, Tumut and Orange. The final choice was never made, as the House of Representatives favored Tumut, while the Senate favored Bombala. Soon, the existing Parliament relinquished its powers, and the choice of the location of the new capital of Australia passed to the new Parliament.

In 1904, at a meeting of the new parliament, a compromise decision was made - the parliamentarians opted for Daljeti, which, like Bombala, was located in the Monaro area. However, this decision of the Federal Parliament was not supported by the government of New South Wales, due to the reluctance to allocate large areas required by the federal government.

In 1906, the government of New South Wales, nevertheless, made some land concessions, but with the condition of organizing a new capital in the area of ​​the cities of Canberra and Yass and closer to Sydney. After a tour of the region by some senators and members of Parliament, in 1908 a new list of 11 cities was submitted to Parliament for consideration.

Initially, Dalgety took the lead, but by the eighth round Canberra and Yass took the lead, and in the ninth round they were approved as the place for the future capital. The act of the government meeting of 1908 canceled the previous decision of 1904 and established the capital of Australia in the area of ​​the cities of Canberra and Yass.

In the same year, government-appointed surveyor Charles Scrivener arrived in the region and, after extensive research, settled on Canberra's current location, 300 km (186.4 miles) southwest of Sydney in the foothills of Sydney. Australian Alps.

Plan of Canberra

The construction of the Australian Capital began in 1913 according to the plan of the American architects Walter and Marion Griffin, who won international competition for the best city design.

The architectural project of the Australian capital was based on the concept of a park city, which provides for vast areas of natural vegetation. Canberra was built on the basis of an urban plan designed by an American architect. Walter Burley Griffin, one of the largest

Opening of the Australian Parliament House in 1927

That is why the Australians proudly call their capital “bush capital”, which means “thicket capital”. Canberra is now a thriving city, home to the Parliament and Supreme Court of Australia, numerous government offices and ministries.

Development of the Australian capital

In 1911, the Royal Military College, one of the first federal facilities in the Australian Capital Territory, was opened on the grounds of Duntroon. The opening of the college was due to the need to train officers for the new Australian army, the newly created Australian Federation.

In the same year, an international competition was announced to develop the design of the future capital. In 1912, the American architect Walter Burley Griffin won the competition. Griffin's design, presented by his wife, also architect Marion Mahone Griffin, was replete with geometric patterns formed by hexagonal and octagonal streets radiating from multiple centers. Center architectural composition city, a lake was chosen, framed by extensive natural vegetation. According to the press of the time, Griffin's design was "the best of all presented, with attractive simplicity and clarity."

The geometric scheme of the city, including the lakes, was tied to various natural topographical landmarks. Moreover, the project took into account the coordination with the geometric axes of buildings federal significance and natural attractions.

For the practical implementation of the Griffin project, the government involved Scrivener, who proposed to simplify the geometric shapes of the project. Scrivener's proposal was rejected by Griffin, who stated that the geometry he had chosen was "one of the raison d'êtres of ornamental waters" and refused to approve Canberra's simplified development plan.

The official name of Canberra was approved on March 12, 1913 at the very beginning of its construction. Having received Griffin's official refusal to approve the plan, the government invited him to Canberra to resolve the issue. Upon his arrival in Canberra in August 1913, Griffin was appointed Director of Design and Construction for the city for a three-year term.

Griffin's work was delayed by numerous bureaucratic delays, to eliminate which in 1916 the Royal Commission gave Griffin additional powers.

Griffin's tense business relationship with the Australian authorities and insufficient federal funding for the construction led Griffin to be fired from his position and leave Australia. By the time he was fired, Griffin had only revised the plan to supervise the earthworks on the main avenues and created the plantation of Glenlock Cork.

Following Griffin's departure, advice to the building authority was entrusted to the newly created Federal Capital Advisory Board. The successes of the committee were insignificant, and in 1925 it was replaced by the Federal Capital Commission.

The main purpose of the commission was to move the Commonwealth Parliament and federal services from Melbourne to Canberra. On May 9, 1927, the federal government officially moved into the Provisional Houses of Parliament. Then gradually, over the course of several years, the headquarters of various departments moved to Canberra. Between 1938 and 1957, development of the city continued under the direction of the Canberra National Capital Planning and Development Committee.

Several of the city's main buildings were built during this time period, among them the Australian War Memorial (1941).

During the period Great Depression and the post-war period, Canberra developed slowly and rightly deserved a lot of criticism for the ugly disorganization of many buildings. It is no coincidence that Canberra has often been compared to "a few suburbs in search of a city".

Huge contribution Prime Minister Robert Menzies contributed to the development of the city. For more than 10 years of his leadership, Menzies fired 2 negligent ministers and brought Canberra to a high level of development.

In 1954, the Senate Select Committee heard Canberra's development concerns and, given the acute shortage of residential and office space, recommended the creation of a single body that would combine planning with executive functions. So in 1957, the National Capital Development Commission was created, which, after four years of disputes about the design and forms of Lake Burley Griffin, finally completed its construction in 1964. The completion of these works laid the foundation for the development of the Parliamentary Triangle.

For four decades, a number of buildings have been built on the shores of the lake. national importance. According to the government's plan, "the lake is not only the most important feature in Canberra's master plan, but also forms the 'front' side of the National Parliament District." The newly erected Australian National University has been developed on the northern shore of the lake, and several sculptures and monuments have also been erected here.

At the end of construction, the central pool was located between the war memorial and the parliament building, and a landscaped boulevard was located along the banks. The New National Library of Australia was located in the Parliamentary Triangle, followed by buildings Supreme Court Australia, the National Gallery and the new Houses of Parliament. In 2001, on the shore of the lake was built National Museum Australia (replacing the demolished Royal Canberra Hospital).

According to average estimates, in the period 1955-1975. Canberra's population has more than doubled every five years. The provision of housing for new residents of the city was controlled by the National Capital Development Commission, which oversaw the introduction of new residential areas in the districts of Woden Valley (1964), Belconnen (1966), Weston Creek (1969) and Tuggeranong (1973) . In 1988, this Committee was disbanded and replaced by the Australian Capital Territory Government and the National Capital Authority, specifically set up to oversee Commonwealth action in the development of the National Capital. In 1990, the development of Canberra continued with the formation of the Gangalin district.

Cultural life of the capital of Australia

Canberra is also a significant educational and cultural center country. Canberra has many monuments and public cultural institutions. Among them: the Australian War Memorial, the National Gallery of Australia, the National Portrait Gallery, the National Library of Australia, the National Museum of Australia, etc. Of the cultural attractions of the capital of Australia, one can note the monument to James Cook, the National Carillon, the Telsra Tower, Botanical Garden on Black Mountain, the Scrivner Dam National Zoo and Aquarium, the National Dinosaur Museum, and the National Science and Technology Center.

Canberra can rightly be called the musical capital of Australia: the Canberra Theater hosts major concerts and theatrical performances, as well as significant performances by musicians at Llewellyn Hall at the Australian School of Music. national university. Childers Street is home to a street theatre, and Canberra's oldest concert hall, the Albert Hall, opened in 1928, was originally used by the Canberra Repertory Society and the Canberra Philharmonic.

Modern city

The early years of the 21st century in the Australian Capital Territory were marked by a prolonged drought that caused several devastating forest fires. For example, in 2001, during the Christmas period, five local fires burned 16 km² of forests, including plantations of pine forests, in which the government had invested many millions of dollars.

A devastating fire in 2003 destroyed 70% of the state's vegetation, including 99% of the Tidbinbill Wildlife Sanctuary and significant areas of state pine plantations. The fire killed four people and completely destroyed 67 houses, of which: 16 houses from Uriarra, 12 from Pierces Creek; 614 suburban homes in Canberra were also partially destroyed.

Historic buildings also burned down: Mount Franklin, an alpine chalet built in 1937-1938. for the Canberra Club, the Neil Desperandum and Rock Valley Buildings in Tidbinbill Nature Reserve, most of the Mount Stromlo Observatory buildings, including the Oddi Telescope, built in 1911 and was the first federal building in the state.

The nightlife of the capital of Australia is also diverse - in the areas of Dixon and Kingston is located a large number of discos, bars and nightclubs.

From cultural events Must-Highlights: National Craft Festival, Royal Canberra Show, Summernats Car Festival, Canberra Multicultural Festival & Festival Celebrate Canberra».

The unusual town of Canberra is the capital of Australia, the administrative center where the main political structures of the country are located, with a population of only 290 thousand people. Mostly officials and their families live here. The city is hidden from prying eyes by the Blue Mountains, unlike others major cities country, Canberra is landlocked. These geographical conditions provided the capital of Australia with a calm and moderate rhythm of life.

In 1901, the decision was made to form the Federation of Australian States. The choice of capital between Sydney and Melbourne was resolved in favor of a new capital city following the example of Brazil. This city became Canberra Australia thus reconciled the two cities. An international competition was announced for the construction of the city, best project proposed by the American architect Walter Griffin. An artificial lake was named after him. The city center of Canberra has been occupied by official institutions, and residential areas are located around the center. With their huge eucalyptus trees Australia has long been famous for its capital, but it differs from other cities in the country with millions of pines and firs planted here. In Canberra, a lot of attention is paid to green spaces.

Canberra is the capital of the Australian continent and one of the youngest capitals in the world.

Canberra

Canberra is the young capital of Australia with a population of just over 3,000,000 people. The entire area where the city is located is a national park. Canberra was designed by an American architect in the last century. Although the city is young, nevertheless, there is something to see here. Canberra Airport accepts only domestic flights, so to get there, you first need to buy international air tickets to Sydney or Melbourne, and then transfer to a flight to Canberra. You can also get from Sydney to Canberra by land transport, since the distance between cities is only 300 kilometers.

Canberra is home to the National Gallery and the National Museum of Australia. The National Museum is dedicated to the history of Australia, the people, problems and events of the mainland. The museum is located on the site of the Royal Hospital, demolished in 1997 after 4 years. The building is made in a semicircle around the Garden of Australian Dreams (Garden of Australian Dreams). The National Gallery can be considered the largest on the continent, because it has collected within its walls more than 100,000 exhibits from around the globe. The most interesting exposition is the work of Australian aborigines.

Not far from Canberra there is a park - Cockington Green, this is an amazing place. Here is a miniature English village, made in 1:12 scale. However, all the houses and trees are real. Also in Cockington Green there are miniatures of completely different architecture, from ancient rome to present-day Los Angeles.

To admire the panorama of the city, you can climb the Telestra tower, which houses a museum and a souvenir shop.

Nature lovers will not be left without impressions after visiting the National Botanical Garden located on the Black Mountain. The botanical garden contains not only thousands of Australian plants, but also a huge number of plants from other continents.

All sorts of festivals are constantly held in Canberra. Starting from the floral Floriade, ending with all kinds of auto shows and rallies.

lovers active rest in Canberra there will be no time for rest at all, more precisely, time for passive rest. You can go cycling, horseback riding, surfboarding on the artificial lake in the heart of the city.

To the question of what country Canberra, without hesitation, one can answer only one thing: it is not a country, but a city. And almost any high school student will tell you about this, of course, if he carefully listened to the material presented by the geography teacher. At the same time, not all adults know that this city is the capital of Australia, and not Sydney or Melbourne, as many believe. It's true amazing creation twentieth century, in which you can not find old buildings or narrow streets. The city has its own special spirit. It was carefully thought out and planned to the smallest detail, and in general it is atypical for the country.

Founding history

For a long time, the question of the capital of Australia was very acute. The fact is that such two large and important cities as Melbourne and Sydney claimed the right to be considered the administrative center of the state. In order not to infringe on the interests of any of them, in 1909 the government decided to build the capital of the state on neutral territory. The place where Canberra is located was indicated on the map by the Australian Parliament. At the same meeting, a competition for the project of a new city was announced. It was attended by representatives different countries peace. The winner was Chicago architect Walter Burley Griffin. As a result, according to his project, a new administrative center of Australia was laid in 1913, and the time of its construction took about half a century.

Construction features

The area where the city of Canberra is located is a valley covered with rare species plants and surrounded by hills. It is located 650 kilometers (northeast) from Sydney and 370 kilometers southwest (from it). Literally translated from the Aboriginal language, the name of the Australian capital means "meeting place". According to the proposed building plan, the city is clearly divided into districts, each of which has a specific purpose - for administrative buildings, commercial and office buildings, educational and cultural institutions, and so on. The layout of the houses is distinguished by rigor and accuracy. Canberra received the official status of the capital in 1927. At the same time, the parliament and the government residence moved here.

general description

Canberra, which is located at 35 degrees south latitude and 149 degrees east longitude, is located in the central part of Australian mainland, at a great distance from the coast, at an altitude of 600 meters above sea level. The area of ​​its territory is approximately 800 square kilometers. The population exceeds the mark of 380 thousand people. In the heart of the Australian capital is Lake Burley Griffin, which is separated from the Molonglo River by a dam. The picturesque landscapes of the area where Canberra is located owe to the surrounding eucalyptus forests, savannahs, green meadows and swamps. Moreover, the region is characterized by a high level of environmental friendliness, Canberra's air is fresh and clean all the time. Continuous building, as well as the construction of industrial enterprises are prohibited here. The human imagination is amazed by the diversity of bird species that have chosen these territories. As for the animal world, in urban areas you can meet wild kangaroos, marsupial bears, as well as many other representatives of the fauna. In addition, there are also the number of varieties of which reaches several tens.

Ethnic composition of the population, religion and language

The area where Canberra is located and its environs are overwhelmingly inhabited by descendants of immigrants from European countries (mainly Irish and British). In addition to them, a large number of immigrants from Asian countries, Italians, Armenians, Russians, Ukrainians and Greeks live in the city. English language is state. In addition, many residents of the Australian capital speak Russian, Greek and Italian. As for religion, about 80 percent of the population are Christians (Protestants and Catholics). From other religions, Orthodoxy, Islam, Buddhism and Judaism are still widespread here.

Climate

The determining factor in shaping the climate of the city of Canberra is the coordinates of the Australian capital. Due to the remoteness from the coast, less humid weather prevails here compared to settlements coastal states. The same nuance is the reason for the pronounced seasons. During the year, no more than 620 millimeters of precipitation falls in the city. The rainiest period starts in June and ends in August. At this time, the daytime air temperature is in the range of 15 to 18 degrees Celsius, and at night there are frosts. The snow is very a rare occurrence. If it falls out, it lingers for a maximum of several hours. From November to January there is intense heat, and the thermometer reaches 32 degrees above zero. In general, the weather in the city can change very rapidly, and strong differences are characteristic of night and day temperatures. Optimal time The period to visit is from December to February.

Transport

Canberra is a capital that boasts high quality roads. This is largely facilitated by the policy of improvement, constantly pursued by local authorities. Despite the fact that the most common local means of transportation is a car, the city has a developed network of urban transport. The fastest and most comfortable are the buses that run strictly on schedule and allow you to get to anywhere in the capital without any problems. The cost of a single fare is $2.5, while for a daily pass you should pay about $6.6. You can buy them directly from the driver or in specialized kiosks. Buses do not stop everywhere, therefore, in order not to miss your stop, you should press the appropriate button in the cabin in a timely manner. Be that as it may, walking or cycling is a priority for many residents of the city of Canberra. The capital of Australia, among other things, has its own airport. With the largest economic centers of the state (Melbourne and Sydney), it is connected not only by highways, but also by rail.

Architecture

The city of Canberra, home to a large number of modern national monuments, galleries, historical museums and other cultural institutions, boasts well thought out architecture. All the mentioned objects are mainly located around artificial large lakes. There are very few high-rise buildings here. All of them are concentrated on the river embankment. Thus, the Australian capital quite elegantly combines the features of a modern metropolis and a provincial town with an abundance of picturesque places and excellent natural landscapes. Canberra is the capital, which differs significantly from other Western European-style Australian major cities. The fact is that it was planned as a state center for the development of science and culture, as well as a government residence.

Connection

An interesting local feature is the abundance of telephone booths. They meet on every corner. At the same time, you can call from them to foreign countries. The cost of domestic calls is $0.4, and calls to other countries are charged depending on the time and subscribers. You can buy a phone card at almost any kiosk or shop in Canberra. The country as a whole is quite developed in terms of communications: the Internet is widespread here, including 3G. You can buy a SIM card of a local operator with roaming at any point of mobile communications.

As noted above, in 1913 the city of Canberra was founded. Sights and historical monuments in this regard are not so common here. Despite this, there are many interesting objects in the Australian capital. Huge popularity among local residents and tourists enjoy the Botanical Garden, covering an area of ​​50 hectares. It contains about 6 thousand varieties of plants. The artificially created Burley Griffin Lake, which is located in the very center of the city, deserves separate words. It should be noted that it is named after the architect who planned Canberra. In the middle, a fountain named after Captain Cook beats out of it with a powerful jet. Capital Hill is also worth a visit - a small area with government buildings. The ideal place for walking, according to the residents of the capital, is the Cockington Green park, the appearance of which is formed by miniature houses and gardens filled with various exotic plants.

Attractions

In the city of Canberra, attractions are represented mainly by objects created in modern style. This is not surprising, because the Australian capital appeared on the map of the state only in the last century. The most interesting local architectural monument is the old parliament building, built in 1927 and located in the very center of the city. It consists of two floors and is built from white stone. The structure is surrounded by the National Rose Garden and stands out from other buildings with its massive columns.

The Australian War Memorial is Canberra's most famous landmark in the world. It is a whole complex, which includes a hall of memory, a historical museum, and a research center. The memorial was built to commemorate the Australian soldiers who died during the two world wars. On its walls you can see the designations of those places where the inhabitants of the country died - Crete, Mesopotamia, and others. The names of all the dead are inscribed on the bronze plates inside. The halls display dioramas of battles, samples of tanks, aircraft, weapons, as well as paintings by local artists dedicated to the same topic. Next to the complex is the Sculpture Garden. Nearby is a column 66 meters high, on which the figure of an eagle is installed. The sculpture was erected as a token of gratitude to the United States for the assistance provided during World War II.

Canberra is not only a political capital, but also a scientific one. Building National Academy Sciences is located here and is one of the local attractions. In its appearance, it is somewhat similar to the ice houses of the Eskimos, which is why the Australians call it “igloo”.

The Telstra Tower built in 1980 deserves special attention. At its top is equipped observation deck. It offers an excellent panoramic view, and many tourists try to take pictures against its background. In addition, there is a souvenir shop, a cafe and a city museum inside.

Sport

The city of Canberra, where there is a huge number of jogging and cycling paths, special recreation areas, tennis courts, water complexes and exercise equipment, is a real paradise for lovers of sports and an active lifestyle. In the Australian capital, as well as throughout the country, tennis, basketball, golf, rugby and cricket are quite developed. Competitions at the central stadium are held almost all the time. Despite the relatively modest size of the city, many teams are stationed here, representing different kinds sports.

Real estate and business climate

Many foreigners are investing in urban real estate. At the same time, they usually pursue investment and immigration goals. It should be noted that the Australian capital in this regard is more popular than the largest subjects of the country - Melbourne and Sydney, where prices are higher.

Government administration and defense are the main economic sectors of the City of Canberra. Australia is generally considered to be a highly industrialized country. However, this does not apply to its capital. The two activities mentioned above employ about 40 percent of the local population. In addition, the city can be called very progressive, since a number of developers are headquartered here. software. This area activity here has become the most profitable.

Nutrition

Most of the local restaurants are located in central regions cities. If you wish, you can try dishes of almost any cuisine here. The level of service is quite high level and the quality of food is getting better every year. It should be noted that, which earlier practically did not differ from English, in Lately took on its own characteristics. In particular, seafood has now become its invariable attribute. Cheeses are excellently brewed in the Australian capital, and very exotic products can be found on the market - for example, shark lips or

Accommodation, recreation and entertainment

Since Canberra is the capital of a large state, it is easy to find accommodation here. Accommodation options for city guests and tourists vary greatly in cost and comfort - from cheap hotels to luxury villas and hotels. Prices for renting rooms start at $ 30 per day. As for the cultural program, it is perfectly combined with walks, relaxation, as well as visits to all kinds of entertainment facilities. In particular, the National Zoo, together with the aquarium, operates daily. In addition to it, nature lovers will be interested in visiting national reserve"Tidbinbill". The Australian capital is famous for its many nightclubs and entertainment venues, so we can safely say that the leisure sector operates here around the clock. Shops are mostly open seven days a week. In them you can buy almost any thing, including products made from the famous Australian wool.

Nuances that tourists need to remember

Drinking water from the local water supply is not recommended. It is not dangerous to human health, however, due to cleaning, it can delay acclimatization.

smoking in in public places It is strictly forbidden, and alcohol is allowed only at certain times, and even then not everywhere.

When walking in nature, do not forget about insect repellents, which are very annoying here.

As for the time according to which Canberra lives, the time zone of the city is UTC + 10.

Canberra today

As of today, the city has concentrated all political power country. Here is not only the government residence, but also the embassies of other states. One of the most visited cities in the world by foreign tourists last years was Canberra. The capital of Australia, despite this, boasts a very low level crime. If serious offenses take place here, they instantly become public knowledge. The probability of becoming a victim of scammers or pickpockets is almost zero.

Canberra is the capital of Australia. The city is located at the foot of the mountains, while it is not located near the sea, which distinguishes it from other major cities in the country and gives a more relaxed pace of life. Canberra became the capital of Australia as a compromise between Sydney and Melbourne for the title. Today Canberra is a surprisingly elegant city full of fragrant gardens and verdant parks. This city is considered a city of order because it was originally built according to a certain clear pattern.

Tropical forests come close to the city. Thanks to this feature, it will take very little time for residents of the city or tourists to get out into nature. Not far from the city are snowy mountains, ski resort and famous Australian beaches. In addition, there are about 30 wineries. In Canberra, the construction of any industrial enterprises, as well as continuous development, is prohibited, thanks to which there are many parks and gardens with vegetation from different countries: Japanese sakura, Siberian cedar, etc.

This city has temperate climate As a rule, summers here are warm and mild, and winters are cold. However, the weather at the same time, as in any mountainous area, can change very quickly. best time, to visit the city, the Australian summer is considered, according to our standards, it lasts from December to February. The main attractions of Canberra are its original buildings. In the center of the city is the "parliamentary triangle". In its center is the Parliament building itself - one of the sights of the city. The long white stone building is interesting in that it has the shape of a boomerang. When decorating the building, they used a local theme, decorating its terrace with a huge mosaic, which was laid out by local aborigines.

A special quarter was built in the center for the embassies of various friendly states. At the same time, the buildings of embassies have the features of the architecture of the country they represent. In the center of Canberra, on Lake Burley Griffin, there is a huge fountain of Captain Cook. In addition, there is a national gallery and a national library. There are over 70,000 works of art in the National Gallery. Here are presented not only the works of old European masters, but also the folk art of the natives. The Australian Academy of Sciences is made in the shape of a hemisphere, so from a distance it looks like an Eskimo dwelling. Another original structure is the belfry tower Karilon, which is a large trihedral pillar that goes high into the sky.

In the National Portrait Gallery, tourists will be able to see rare exhibits from private collections, as art exhibitions are often held here. Other attractions in Canberra include the National Botanic Garden, which is located on Black Mountain, the Australian National Zoo and Aquarium, the Dinosaur Museum, and the Science and Technology Center. IN snowy mountains, not far from Canberra, is the only ski resort in Australia - Thredbo, where tourists from all over the world rest.